Microsoft Update Brings Thousands of PCs to Standstill
by , 4:15 PM EDT, October 25th, 2007
Microsoft installed a resource hungry search application on
thousands of PCs Wednesday, bringing them to a standstill, according
to The Register on Thursday. It happened even though administrators
had configured their systems not to use the search tool.
The incident is the second in as many months where administrators thought
they had locked down their machines and had obtained configuration
control.
The problem starts when the search software starts to index the PC. It's
particularly bad when it happens on a server. "The admins at my place were in a flap this morning because Windows Desktop Search 3.01 had suddenly started installing itself on desktops throughout the company," one administrator said.
"I'm slightly pissed of [sic] at M$ right now," said another administrator of 3,000 PCs responding to the problem on the Internet. "All the clients have slowed to a crawl, and the file servers are having problems with the load."
"The revelation that Microsoft is pushing yet more installations not explicitly agreed to by administrators is not likely to sit well with this same vocal contingent," Dan Goodin reported.
I read Miscrosoft's "explanation" of what happened and it seems to me they are much better at developing spin than they are at developing software. What rubbish.
This is your brain, this is your brain on windoze.
I work for a company of 18,000 that were on Macs until 1999, they switched to Windows only for the customers. There ain't a day that one of these happens that I'm not told, "Don't! Don't say it and wipe that stupid smile off your face and help us fix this &$%*@!"
Latest MS AutoUpdate Bogging Down Your Computer? NO. It's Just Us Helping
We have been inundated with complaints about the latest system update installing itself without notification or permission.
Our WDS Blog explains the situation:
"WDS revision update, expanded applicability rules, auto-approve revisions
Some customers have reported that update package for KB917013 was being deployed to WSUS clients without having approved the update for installation on their WSUS servers. The original update release, released February 2007 as an optional update, was only applicable on systems which had a version of Windows Desktop Search installed. The recent update Revision 105, had the applicability logic expanded to be applicable to all systems regardless if a prior version of Windows Desktop Search was installed, IF of course, approved in the WSUS Administrative UI or via Administrator-set auto-approval rules.
The initial update would have only been installed if the update had been either auto, or manually approved, and if the applicability criteria was met on the client (that WDS was installed). For some customers, because the original update was approved for install, but because of the previous applicability rules to apply only to clients which had WDS installed, the update was not actually installed.
So what happened with this revision and why did it seemingly deploy itself to all systems in my environment? WSUS by default is set to auto-approve update revisions to minimize administrative overhead and make sure distribution “just works”. Keeping in mind, revisions are only titled as such, when metadata or applicability rules of an update package change, never the binaries. Revisions are also of course only auto-approved via this setting, if the original update is approved."
What you think is happening is not happening:
"With the expanded applicability rules, and the WSUS default setting to auto-approve new revisions, it may have appeared as if this update was deployed without approval. The initial version of the update would have had to have been approved, and the “auto-approve revisions” option on (by default) in order for this revision to have also been approved and deployed."
I hope that clears everything up.
(Just let the thing run, reindex your drive and network. Go on vacation, don't use the computer for a day or two. When you get back everything will be just fine.)
http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com
CloseViewName:MikuroPosts: 448Joined: 15 Jun 2002 Fri Oct 26, 2007 3:37 amSubject:
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Brutno wrote: I read Miscrosoft's "explanation" of what happened and it seems to me they are much better at developing spin than they are at developing software. What rubbish.
That's saying quite a lot, since after reading it, I have to say that Microsoft is apparently really, really bad at developing spin, too! That explanation was barely coherent.
CloseViewName:geoduckPosts: 1721Joined: 30 Dec 2003 Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:10 amSubject:
What I don't understand is why M$ isn't on the receiving end of thousands of lawsuits over this kind of crap. I mean seriously it isn't like the first time they have screwed up not just desktop systems but critical servers, but I haven't heard anything about suits for real damages, petitions for class action status, or anything like that. Yet apple sells an '8Gb' Nano that holds 7.45Gb of music once it's formatted and they get sued.
I also don't buy the MS 'explanation'. The last place I worked we specifically and deliberately set our systems to not auto update because the updates would often force a reboot taking them off line until someone could go down to the basement and log in (for security reasons we did not set them to auto log in). Despite this, at least once a month we'd come in and find half of our servers off line because of something M$ pushed down overnight. We had the top Windows people in our organization looking at our systems and they all said they should not be getting updates unless we manually downloaded and installed them, yet our systems kept getting patched automatically. It’s just more M$BS.
CloseViewName:BrutnoPosts: 195Joined: 28 Aug 2002 Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:27 amSubject: Agreed
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Mikuro wrote:
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Brutno wrote: I read Miscrosoft's "explanation" of what happened and it seems to me they are much better at developing spin than they are at developing software. What rubbish.
That's saying quite a lot, since after reading it, I have to say that Microsoft is apparently really, really bad at developing spin, too! That explanation was barely coherent.
Yes, that's a mouthful, but even with the spin being horrible, it's still better than their explanation. MSFT has always been better at spin, though. How else to explain all that fantastic vaporware?
I spent 1/2 my day wednesday dealing with problems caused by this and we only have 32 computers here. That was 1/2 day that I could have been productive programming. Needless to day, I can't get that time back from microsoft.
Your shitty Macs aren't any better - it's just that Macs disguise problems instead of throwing them in your face like Windows does. It's great when you can't figure out why a Mac doesn't work since the OS will never tell you what's wrong. At least you can diagnose problems on Windows. #@!$ off with your Leopard talk - there's a reason that most companies use Windows over Mac. You can argue it but face the facts you god damn fanboys.
I am laughing - I mean *really* laughing.. And you keep on using and paying M$ stuff over and over and over...
Such stupidity earns stuff like this...
LOL
C
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geoduck wrote: What I don't understand is why M$ isn't on the receiving end of thousands of lawsuits over this kind of crap. I mean seriously it isn't like the first time they have screwed up not just desktop systems but critical servers, but I haven't heard anything about suits for real damages, petitions for class action status, or anything like that. Yet apple sells an '8Gb' Nano that holds 7.45Gb of music once it's formatted and they get sued.
I also don't buy the MS 'explanation'. The last place I worked we specifically and deliberately set our systems to not auto update because the updates would often force a reboot taking them off line until someone could go down to the basement and log in (for security reasons we did not set them to auto log in). Despite this, at least once a month we'd come in and find half of our servers off line because of something M$ pushed down overnight. We had the top Windows people in our organization looking at our systems and they all said they should not be getting updates unless we manually downloaded and installed them, yet our systems kept getting patched automatically. It’s just more M$BS.
And *how* it shows the intelligence of the average Win user...
You know - your world is crumbling in front of you - and you're SO SO lost...
Oh Man...LOL
C
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Guest wrote: Your shitty Macs aren't any better - it's just that Macs disguise problems instead of throwing them in your face like Windows does. It's great when you can't figure out why a Mac doesn't work since the OS will never tell you what's wrong. At least you can diagnose problems on Windows. #@!$ off with your Leopard talk - there's a reason that most companies use Windows over Mac. You can argue it but face the facts you god damn fanboys.
You are not locked in. The windows are locked but the door is wide open. Walk right out it. There IS a world outside those Windows and you can live without them. I know that it sseems like your entire value and purpose is entwined in this system, but it isn't.
Make a conscious decision today to leave. You can't just stop, but you can become aware of your addiction and work to lessen it. One day you will find that you are capable on other systems too. One day you will be free. Work diligently and consistently for your freedom.
I suspect it's because their license agreements specify they cannot be held liable for the consequences of any conceivable fuckup resulting from use of their software.
CloseViewName:Guest Fri Oct 26, 2007 9:39 pmSubject: Sigh
I seriously doubt it installed w/o them setting Windows Update to "AUtomatically Install" and reboot, and in that case its the admins fault for setting that up in which case they should be beating themselves up not MS.
CloseViewName:Guest Fri Oct 26, 2007 10:00 pmSubject:
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Small White Car wrote:
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article wrote: "I'm slightly pissed of [sic] at M$ right now," said another administrator of 3,000 PCs responding to the problem on the Internet.
Wait, he actually SAID "M$" in the quote? How do you say that out loud? MmmmmMoney?
And anyone that is an administrator of 3,000 PC's that does not test or review the updates as they arrive in WSUS or SMS and just releases them desires what they get.
Let me say Apple is great. From 2001 to now if you invested 399$ in apple stocks, the price of an iPhone, it would be worth about 10,000$ today. They have made giant leaps. Remember in 1997 when Microsoft invested 150 million in Apple. Then came Entourage and that was kinda crap software, but it connected to Exchange Servers and then came Outlook and it's pretty good. The problem with Apple is not the innovations, or the products...its the culture. They are so special that for years they would not connect to Microsoft Servers. They are so special that the iPod doesn't connect to corporate email. Microsoft took a share of the Apple pie and Apple did nothing, well they went with Intel for CPU and from the reviews I have read, they are faster. The the problem is the culture where MAC is so superior that we can go our own way. The iPhone is a fantastic product...but yet it doesn't connect to Exchange or Lotus.If Mac is so superior why is there a Web Site called macfixitforums.com. I support a bunch of PC's, about 1600 on about 100 different sites and I did not have one issue. I have WSUS installed at several sites. I just learned about this update mess by reading digg and your article came up.
If you want more market shares and to take over the world then make it work for the world, make it work with Microsoft, take a piece of their pie and stop "being so special". Microsoft, as big as they are, are doing very well with thier software. Microsoft is the best software company out there...sorry to break your bubble. Ever heard of GroupThink.
CloseViewName:Guest Fri Oct 26, 2007 11:08 pmSubject: wow
Ok, I'm a PC user, but seriously that guy needs to relax. I too was brought here via Digg and can't say I'm terribly impressed. Amusing article, but I don't look at it as a situation to insult Microsoft so much as a frustration we all have to deal with with corporate America.
You can't honestly tell me Apple has never screwed any of its customers. I'm not saying one is better than the other, bottom line is they're both out to make money and you don't get rich pushing ethics. Sad but true.
I'm glad you've had another opportunity to pat yourselves on the back congratulating yourselves that you're not PC users. Have a nice day.
Anonymous wrote: If Mac is so superior why is there a Web Site called macfixitforums.com.
Umm, for the same reason that there are numerous Windows fixit sites, like FixMyVista.com. Things break. Nobody has seriously claimed that the Mac OS is perfect.
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Microsoft is the best software company out there...
Microsoft makes 3 pieces of software that are the best out there and Windows is not one of them. SQL, Exchange and Active Directory, there is nothing out there like it.
This is why any administrators who is worth there salt should be testing there updates before they are applied. WSUS is a free tool from MS just for allowing you to do this. Its the people who are too lazy and turn auto approve on that then complain about wasted time. If you are going to bash MS then pick a valid reason, god knows there is enoth of them.
Look folks, I'm not saying Linux is perfect, NO OS IS PERFECT.
But honestly, I trust the geeks behind Linux far more than I do the accountants behind Microsoft, or the "All Users are Basically Stupid" approach that Apple has.
And don't tell me Linux is too hard. I've installed it for over 25 different people, 5 of whom are senior citizens... so if you can't use it, then you're less savvy than Grampa Moses.
With Mac, not only do you have to get used to a new system of doing things, you have to get a whole new computer in order to do it.
With Linux, yes, you have to learn some new things, but you can keep your existing hardware, and its not full of bloat like Windows. Truly, with Ubuntu Linux, its not just for geeks anymore. Chances are, your mom could successfully install it without trouble.
And if you're worried you wouldn't like it, install it with Wubi, from within Windows... then you can uninstall it from Windows.
There's even Ubuntu disks for Macs... hell even for PS3's.
No company is trying harder than the Ubuntu guys to give users what they need and want, while also empowering them to join in the development process if they so desire.
When was the last time that Apple or Microsoft asked you to join in the development process? or gave you an avenue for suggestions and feedback that was actually listened to and considered?
Oh, and I don't have to worry about viruses or spyware either...
Did I mention that Ubuntu was free?
Yeah, I'm a fanboy, I admit it. But not without reason. I was a windows power user for years, and still hated the company. With Ubuntu Linux, I'm a power user, and I couldn't be happier with the people making my OS. When was the last time you Windows users could say that?
My only real complaint about Macs is that they don't give their users enough power, or choice. Otherwise, its a beautiful system.
Dear Asshat that apparently failed 2nd year algebra:
you know "thousands" doesn't even make 1/100th of 1 percent of last year's production. Why is this a story? You ejaculated in you sleep more often last year. Really. Not kidding. Should we be reading about that in the observer instead? About as relevant. Give us some decent content and quit embarrassing us on slow news days ok?
Thresher
CloseViewName:Guest Sat Oct 27, 2007 7:05 amSubject:
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Guest wrote: At Least as A MS user, at least we know its goning to look more like a Mac every upgrade!!!
At least you can still hope!
It isn't close, maybe another few years. I mean, look how far the Zune's come! And Apple's just sitting there churning out the same old iPods year after year with no significant changes.
There's a reason Mac users want PC users to give the Mac OS a try and it's not what you think it is. It's because we love you and want you to be happy.
Go have an apple, kids.
Windows is the best even though it has errors, they are being improved, idiots.... macs and everything else with an apple logo... it sucks! they cost fucking loadz more, with less compatibility, who cares there's more viruses for windows? That's what antis are made for idiots, only retards like you must've got their Windows PCs ruined, normal people know what not to do.
By the way, write about some good things concerning Windows... now don't fucking give me a false laugh sayin there is no good $#!% bout it... there is, appleobslavers. Don't try to make the system for retards(MAC OSX) better in comparison just to the bad stuff about other systems...
Yeah I know you're sad enough to delete this comment, go on then kid.
The zune... great... the Mac, man I dunno how anybody can love that system.. I used it for a few hours and I wanted to stab the MacBook I used.... Useless stuff just changed to differ a lil from Windows... It's sooo irritating... Safari changing the fonts on sites... who the hell wants that?
